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Colleges do not have professors for subjects such as mathematics, biology, English, Urdu, physics, chemistry, political science, history and Islamiyat. — White Star

At the start of the new academic session, government colleges face a shortage of teaching staff.

A senior official of the education department told Dawn that a large number of colleges in Rawalpindi district do not have professors for subjects such as mathematics, biology, English, Urdu, physics, chemistry, political science, history and Islamiyat. He said any claims of improving the quality of education without quality teachers will prove false.

A principal of a government college told Dawn that the previous government had made stop-gap arrangements for overcoming the shortage of teachers by engaging college training interns in vacant positions.

He said that when it came to his attention, former special secretary higher education department Punjab Ehsan Bhutta had said that surplus staff from colleges in big cities will be moved to colleges which are short on staff but the process was stopped during the transfer ban before the general elections.

Principals of various colleges have expressed concern that the academic year has started and new admissions have been made but colleges are still short on teaching staff.

On the other hand, a senior faculty member of another college said some government colleges have surplus staff.

He said that in last three years, many professors and lectures were given appointments of their choice by using political influence.

“It is necessary to streamline teacher appointments across Punjab and appointments should be made with the approval of the college principal,” he said.

When contacted, Deputy Director Colleges Sher Ahmed Satti said the department was working on overcoming the shortage of staff and had sent teachers from colleges were there was a surplus.

He added that the matter will be resolved in a week or two and that students’ time will not be wasted.

The Institute of Space Technology (IST) organised its annual prize distribution ceremony on Thursday for its class of 2018.

Former Suparco chairman retired Maj Gen Ahmed Bilal attended as chief guest. He emphasised that knowledge of science and technology serves as bedrock for any country to prosper.

He encouraged students to get a higher education and strive to enhance their technical and professional skills. He added that effective communication skills and taking part in co-curricular activities is also very important.

He congratulated the winning students and their parents for achieving their goals and awarded medals and trophies to the graduates. The representatives of the graduating class of 2018 presented a souvenir to IST Vice Chancellor Imran Rehman as a memento of acknowledgement to their alma mater.